2007 Team USA scholarship winner and 2007 Pacific F2000 champion Patrick Barrett recently completed a 2-day test with ChampCar Atlantic competitors PR1 Motorsports. Under near-ideal conditions at Buttonwillow Raceway in California Barrett completed 170+ miles each day under the guidance of team officials and PR1 Motorsports driver Mike Forest......here are some quotes from those involved:

Bobby Oregel, Team Owner, PR1 Motorsports:

It was really nice to work with Patrick outside of our norm. The kid did a great job! He built all day and had some pretty respectable lap times, especially towards the end of each day. Mike also did a great job--and as these things tend to go when you've got two cars ontrack--he and Patrick really pushed each other each day. We're pretty pleased. I have to thank Cooper (Tires), Cosworth, Champ Car and everyone at Buttonwillow Raceway for making this test possible for Patrick.

Patrick Barrett, 2007 Pacific F2000 Champion:

I had a great time driving the Champ Car Atlantic car with PR1 Motorsports. I really enjoyed seeing and working with everyone on the team. The car was a blast to drive; we worked mostly on pushing myself and the limits of the car. There's a lot of grip available because of the downforce it produces. It was great having Mike Forest's help; he provided great data and motivation on and off the track. I think it was a successful day and I really learned a lot. I again want to thank Champ Car, Champ Car Atlantic, Cosworth, Cooper Tire, Buttonwillow Raceway, MIke Forest and especially Bobby and Lise Oregel at PR1 Motorsports for this opportunity. I enjoyed every second of it!

Atlantic Championship officials today welcomed a member of one of America's legendary open-wheel families back to the ChampCar fold, as they have hired Johnny Unser for the position of race director(a/k/a chief steward) for the Atlantic Championship beginning in 2008. Unser in the son of late USAC National Championship Series competitor Jerry Unser and is the nephew of 3-time Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser and 2-time CART series titleist "Big" Al Unser, Sr.; he is also the cousin of 2-time Indy 500 and CART series champion "Little" Al Unser, Jr. In addition to his duties as Atlantic steward, Unser will assist ChampCar VP-Operations Tony Cotman during ChampCar races as an assistant director of race control. Here are some those from today's announcement.......................

Vicki O'Conner, Atlantic Championship Managing Director:

We are delighted to welcome Johnny Unser as our Champ Car Atlantic Race Director and are thrilled to bring the Unser name back into our paddock once again. We have gotten to know Johnny closer over the past year through his association with Cooper Tires and feel strongly that he has exactly the right personality and temperment to be successful in this position. His knowledge of racing is impeccable and he will truly be an asset to our already outstanding group of race officials.

Johnny Unser, Atlantic Championship Race Director:

I have looked at the Champ Car Atlantic Championship from a distance for many years and have always appreciated how well it was run and the quality of drivers that the series has produced. It is truly an honor to be asked to represent the series as Race Director, and I am looking forward to working with the very committed and professional people associated with the Champ Car Atlantic Championship. Working with young, aggressive drivers is something I've always enjoyed, and I hope to be able to share with them some of the things I've learned over the years and help them succeed with the ups and downs of professional motor sports.

North America's longest-running driver development series will continue for its' 35th season, announced series officials today from both coasts in announcements made in Homestead, Fla. and Los Angeles, Ca. Here are some of the quotes from each coast:

Kevin Kalkhoven, Atlantic Championship Series Co-Owner:

The Atlantic Championship's history and record of developing drivers is so impressive that Gerry (Forsythe) and I want to see it continue this season and for many years to come. Many great drivers have cut their teeth in Atlantics over the past 34 years before moving on to terrific careers in the highest levels of international motorsport, including Champ Cars, the IndyCar Series, Formula 1 and NASCAR.

Vicki O'Connor, Atlantic Championship Managing Director:

This is the beginning of another exciting chapter in the history of Atlantics and I am proud and honored to be a part of it. Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of (series co-owners) Gerry Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven, along with the valued support of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and Mazda North America. There is an incredible amount of work to be done before we get to our season opener in Long Beach on April 20, but we will be ready.

Due to the unification between ChampCar and the IRL, an updated Atlantics schedule will be forthcoming soon.

While losing ChampCar's venues for this year has hurt the Atlantic schedule for the time being, series officials have confirmed that there will be a 12-round schedule for 2008.........schedule will be updated as the remainder of the rounds are announced.

With all the attention focused on the IndyCar Series, it is hard to remember that NA motorsports' premiere driver-development series, the Atlantic Championship, began its' third and final 2008 preseason test at the MotorSport Ranch raceing facility near Houston, Tx.

While losing ChampCar's venues for this year has hurt the Atlantic schedule for the time being, series officials have confirmed that there will be a 12-round schedule for 2008.........schedule will be updated as the remainder of the rounds are announced.

When the dust settled from a frentic provisional qualifying session at Long Beach, it was an Atlantic veteran who held the provisional pole for Sunday's first round of the 2008 Atlantic Championship..................